MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND FISHERIES

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:51): Does the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries stand by his statement that he is the most qualified and best person nationally for his current role as Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries? During his recent tour of the Riverland, the newly appointed minister for agriculture said publicly, and I quote, 'I am probably the most qualified member of the South Australian parliament—both Liberal and Labor—to be doing this job, and I am probably one of the best nationally, so I think I am a bit of a natural fit for this portfolio.'

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Northern Suburbs) (15:52): I thank the member for Hammond, I hope that was picked up clearly in Hansard, and I stand by it. If the member for Hammond can illustrate to me that either he or his colleagues have operated at an international level with a firm like Elders, I will stand corrected. I stand by my statement. I started—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: The question was put to me in the Riverland that, as a Labor—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Can we listen to the minister's answer, please?

Mr Pisoni: He's pumping himself up.

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: I could say a few things about the member for Unley and about slipping his wife into his directorship when he realised his company was going bad, but I will not.

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister, can you return to the question, please?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: Yes. I was asked by a journalist in the Riverland that, being a Labor member of parliament, and Labor having a high level of representation in the metropolitan area but not in rural South Australia, would I be able to represent the interests of rural South Australia. My response was that I thought I was extremely well-qualified, having—

Mr Hamilton-Smith: You said you were the greatest, the best.

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: I said that I was—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: Yes, I did. I was fortunate to work for what was then Elders Pastoral. I was employed—just by way of a quick thumbnail—by Elders in a national position. I was promoted to Elders Agribusiness, operating a division of Elders IXL, one of four operating divisions, in an international position. I worked out of Elders Grain in Melbourne.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: Yes, okay. I was asked.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: I think I have answered the question. If the member for Hammond wants to get to his feet and tell me that there is somebody—